The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08

| TO buy up the STOCK. The holders OF
the stock believed that their cause
was already lost and were glad TO
sell. The result was that when the
decision was rendered the clerk re-
signed his position and retired on
his laurels. He made 5000, 900 in
one day. There is no doubt Of this
occurrence. but the lucky man has
always felt reticent about letting it
out. He has some twangs and
twinres Of conscience, and believes
that he did wrong to make use OF his
official knowledge for his personal
gain. That is a question in ethics
for the moral philosophers to tackle.
All sorts Of questions enter into
the cases which are considered by
the Supreme Court, and the Justices
make exhaustive studies of them.
They also take many books from the
library for private use. and it is
curious what turns some Of their
tastes take. Justice Gray reads
French novels, aud has drawn q
thousand within the last FIVE years.
1t doesn't speak we'll for the moral
tendencies OF a man to look after that
sort of literature habitually; but
maybe the Justice is making a study
of that subject for a book ne intends
to publish. He calls for six or eight
novels at a time, and then complains
that he cant End enough. 1t takes
him about three days to finish one
job lot, and then he comes after an-
other installment. Justice Bradley
was always a student of curious his
torical questions, and never tired Of
his reading on that subject. He is
a hobby rider, and invcnts calendars
for the long ago. He can take one
of his calendars and tell you what
day of the week was the LIST of Janu-
airy, 1909, or any other ancient
date. Justices Harlan, Field and
Miller are also great readers, but
they do not ride hobby horses.
Their reading is as general and
desultory as that of the average
reader. But the Senators are
the wonderful fellows who read.
Mr.. Voorhees,, for instance, has
as many as sixty books out of the Ii
brary at time, and he reads them
all, too. Sometimes he has as many
as 100 books out, and he reads great
deal in preparing his speeches. When
he makes a speech you may be sure
that he has said all that is worth
saying on the subject, for he has
read all there is written or printed
on the subject, and fully and thor
oughly masters it. He likes the
biographies Of Clay, Calhoun, Web
ster and their speeches. He reads
as a matter of business, and not for
amusement. In the case Of great
debate in the Senate, you may have
noticed that all the others speak
before Voorhees,. He never pretends
to know anything about what is 60
ing on; but, unexpectedly, he rises
and says that he desires to say few
words. Before he sits down the
whole subject is laid before the Sen
ate. Voorhees, has been working the
library for all the meat in the sub
ject. Secretary Bayard used to be
very much like Mr.. Voorhees,, said
the clerk, He does not read so many
books, though, but he reads them
more profoundly. Bayard never re-
fers to the same book twice.
He charges his memory with it all.
Voorhees, dees not believe in taxing
the brain in that manner nowadays.
He CLEANS what he wants for
immediate use, and refers to the same
book again ii he needs it. There is
the difference between great minds.
Senator Logan used to be great
reader Of works on military history,
especially ON the late war. He often
said that il he had only had access to
military works prior to the war he
could have served his country better.
That was questioned by Grant. He
believed that Logan was a natural
soldier, and that books on strategy
would have confused and spoiled him.
He would have depended less upon
himself and more upon the books.
Blaine used the entire Congressional
Library in preparing the first volume
of his book. He used to sit in the
library and read the leading newspa-
pers Of the period which is covered
by his book, That was to refresh his
memory. He had passed through
the hurly burly period, and had never
charged his memory with the events,
except as q politician. But when he
commenced to write his book he re-
freshed his memory concerning the
occurrencesoi each day of the period
referred to by him by reading
the papers, | believe that he
read the daily New York
Tribune, from 1860 to 1876. That
was a big job, but Blaine did it and
seemed TO enjoy it. OF course the
reading was more interesting to him
because there was something of per.
sonal reminiscenoe called up by every
line. Sunset Cox was always reader
of books of travel, and the clerk said
that he always expected Mr.. Cox
wanted to be o foreign minister from
the books he read. Mr.. Spofford, the
celebrated Librarian OF Congress
the man who is said to be personally
acquainted with all Of the books in
that immense collection, says that he
is no better posted than Senator Hoar
of Massachusetts,. That Senator il
very accurate in his book knowledge
and is familiar with all great works
and the differences in them. But
when the great debate occurred III
1879, in which Blaine taught the
Massachusetts, Senators the history
of their own State, Senator
Hoar's heart was almost broken
He was caught mapping. Blaine
had scored the great library and was
primed for debate. HOar aud Dawes
were not expecting such q brOadside
aud they were completely annihi
lated. II was the timely and dill
gent use of the great library which
helped Blaine in that great emer
gency. Senators Ingalls,, Ransom aat
Vance read classical works. nd
munds reads in foreign languages
almost as we'll as in his own. Senator
Sherman reads all works on finance